Fair Mile Hospital

Fair Mile in wartime

During the First World War additional patients were transferred to the asylum from other hospitals, such as the Sussex County Asylum, when these were taken over as military hospitals. This also happened during the Second World War, when the hospital reached its greatest size, accommodating over 1,400 patients, as patients were transferred from Brookwood Hospital in Surrey, Great Yarmouth Naval Hospital, Norfolk, and Hill End Hospital in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image:

Transfer of patients from Brookwood Hospital, 1939
This extract from the Medical Superintendent’s general statement book 1939 describes the arrangements for transferring patients from Brookwood Hospital in Surrey.
Document reference: [D/H10/A4/13 (part)]

Staff shortages during the First World War, 1914
This extract from the general statement book in September 1914 show the Medical Superintendent complaining of shortages of male staff as a result of the First World War, causing the cancellation of staff leave. By December 1915 there were 24 male attendants instead of the usual 38, with an increased number of patients to care for. Many of the hospital’s auxiliary staff, including a bricklayer, a carpenter, a gardener and a farmer were also called up. In March 1916 all staff were given a ‘war bonus’, and the Medical Superintendent attended numerous tribunals to get many of the male staff exempted from military service. 
Document reference: [D/H10/A4/9 (part)]
 
 

Prisoners of war in the asylum, 1914
In this extract from the general statement book in November 1914 the Medical Superintendent complains that two German Prisoners of War were admitted to the hospital, and describes this as unfair on patients and staff, as the hospital is overcrowded, and there were, understandably, tensions between the prisoners and the other patients. 
Document reference: [D/H10/A4/9 (part)]